Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-01
Large Audience IN Mesna.. u.u
~esasa by Lsring FAR, Zee.

ouaros numbered twenty seven men and
Seth Williams Post, seventy.fve. The
latter we're noticeable for their neat appear
ance, and regular marching. The
Gardiner band, twenty-five pieces, made .
fine showing. The procession moved at
30 in the following order:
Col. G. T. STEVENS. Marshal.
W. D. Lapham. Chief OF Staf; II. r. Blanchard.
Assistant Adjatan. General; p. P. Bolster.
surgeon; 6. +. Brckett. j. o. Web
ster' j Q. A. Halves, Assist
ant Surgeons.
4. W. soule.Q N. Rev. II. J. White, Chaplain.
ID. IT, ward. Henry Sewall. Geo. r. Stevens. Geo.
Doughty. j. W. W hite, o. o. Stetson.
Busler, Harry A. Warner Color Bearer, II AIRY Brooks
ORpERLIEs.
W. W. Wyman. II. II. Blanchard. Thad. welch,
Ben " Lapham.
Police.
c.,,,., cu Gardner Band.
Capital Guards, ". 5. Choate, Capt. Comma udinp
Seth Williams Post. No. Is G. A. r.,
II. q. Staples. Commander.
Carriages
Orator and President Of the Day.
Augusta City Government.
Clergy.
Citizens.
The route of procession was along Water
to Bridge, up Bridge to State, through State
to Green, up Green street to Forest Grove, st.
Mary's and Mount Pleasant Cemeteries.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. A. f. Skeele.
and the Post proceeded to decorate the
soldiers graves in accordance with the es.
tablished custom of the order At the I'm.
known graves Rev. G r. Palmer offered
prayer and the "Arion" quartette sung
"Where Our Brave Soldiers Rest"
composed by Julia May Williamson
of Augusta. Returning by Winthrop
street to State, and down State
Monument Park was reached. Here q
large number of people had been in waiting,
and the monument in it's emerald setting of
we'll trimmed lawn and embow ering tree. pre-
scented pretty picture. The monument was
simply yet tastefully decorated about the
plinth with bunting, evergreen and flowers
after an attractive design selected BY Maj
Cochrane. Each side of the monument had a
shield resting on the base, respectively in
scrlbed 'Grtt, sburg. ""A ntietam" and "Chan.
celorsville " On arriving at the park the pro
cession formed around the monument where
appropriate exercises were held, Rev. G. r.
Palmer offering prayer. A very interesting
feature was the presentation by Commander
Staples, in behalf of Hon. J. T. Woodward
of Portland, the donor, who is member of
Seth Williams Post, of gsvel of chestnut
wood from the battlefield of Gettysburg. to
the Post. A bullet can be seen imbedded in
the wood. Col. Staples read the following
letter:
PORTLAND, Me, MAY 20, 'S7.
Col. II. G. STAPLES Comrades Seth Will
lisms Post. 6. A r., Augusta, Me:
My Dear Col. While at Gettysburg a few
days since found a person who had made
several gavels from pieces of wood cut where
bullets had been thrown during the battle.
Such trees are 80 common in that vicinity
that the wood is not particularly scarce, but
thought it might be of use to the post. and
of some interest as coming from that field.
have no reason to doubt that the ballet in the
gavel WAS imbedded in the wood during the
battle. have sent it to you that you may
place it on the commanders deck for the use
Of yourself and your successors in the post
work Very truly yours,
Jos. T. WoopARp.
From the park the parade moved to Water
street where it WAS dismissed.
The weather throughout proved exceeding
ly propitious, the temperature being condu-
Give to comfort, and while there WAS no dust
there was but little mud, except on Water
street.
In the evening interesting exercises took
place in Meoniau Hall, the large audience in
attendance packing it. Hon. Geo. E. Ma
comber was President of the Day. The pro-
gramme was ~ follows:
I. Music, Gardiner Baad
=. Memorial Service BY Seth Williams Post.
Keller's Hymn, Band
3. Singing. -"Rest In the Shade OF the Trees"
Messrs. II. H. Coomb., ". W. Wyma1. Harry
:. Grafton. Loriag Farr. Esq;
g. Stnsing.-"Gsthering Home" Quartstte
J. Singing. America"
Quartette, Audience and Bana.
The orator of the evening was Loring
Farr, Esq. who delivered q scholarly and
we'll ritten address occupying about half an
hour. Following is quite full abstract.
Mr.. Farr's Address.
From the holy dust or the nation deau
springs immortal the genius of this day
Obedience to an impulse from beyond the
ekies it 10 animate with the breath of life;
and when the sun in his course through the
revolving year. lights up the heavens for this
occasion, like the statue of Hemnon itspeaks
aloud to the children Of men, Hail and for
ever welcome, o guardian divinity, who,
with the smile OF approval on the proceedings
of this day, dost mingle with US here at the
shrine of our country.
Known to the law as dies non jurtdieus,
known to the people as great festival, to
you, comrades OF our order, it lie the ''ssd &C.
casiou dear" consecrsted by time. by custom
and many Q solemn vow, TO the memory OF
the dead. And blessed are the dead who
died in that great cause which we this day
commemorate Blessed are the mothers who
bore sons destined to lay down their lives 10
exchange for so great and imperishaoie
houors Sweetly they repose beneath the
green turves 10 the soft embrace OF sacred
earth in many a hallowed cemetery Blessed
and trice blessed are the people of whom they
were and who now are, moved by sentiment
of profound devotion paying such exalted
tribute to their memory Is was paid OF old
with frankincense and myrrh, on smoking
altars, only to the immortal gods. What .
beautiful ceremony, what revered custom
.Liyes there Q man." lives here Z man whose
.oul il 40 dead who can witness the scenes